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According to the latest annual Freedom in the World report from Freedom House, titled “The Rising Shadow of Autocracy,” global freedom fell for the 20th consecutive year in 2025. When it comes to the 6 Western Balkan countries, a significant decline in civil rights and liberties was recorded in Serbia, where the country lost 3 points after the authorities retaliated against people who participated in protests. All of these countries are still classified as “partly free,” and corruption is cited as one of the main issues.
“Freedom in the World” includes detailed country scores and reports on political rights and civil liberties for 195 countries and 13 territories around the globe. Each country receives a numerical score from 100 (freest) to 0 (least free). Based on the scores, countries are divided into three categories: “free,” “partly free,” and “not free,” writes EWB .
Albania ranks first in the region, followed by Montenegro
Albania ranks best in the region, having scored 69 index points, and saw a slight improvement compared to last year, when it received 68 index points.
According to the Freedom House report: “Albania has a record of competitive elections, although political parties are highly polarized and often organized around key personalities. Religious freedom and freedom of assembly are generally respected.”
However, the document notes that "corruption and bribery remain major problems, although the government is working to address corruption in the judiciary."
Albania is followed by Montenegro, which scored 68 index points. It lost one index point compared to last year, as “many laws proposed by the government were approved through an accelerated procedure and without legislative debate.”
The report claims that “a new parliamentary majority and government were formed after competitive elections in 2023, paving the way towards resolving recent political instability in Montenegro.”
"Corruption in politics and the judiciary remains a problem. Montenegro is home to dynamic media and civil society sectors. Civil liberties and political freedoms are generally respected," the report notes.
North Macedonia scored 67 index points, which is the same result as in 2025.
"The country continues to grapple with corruption, and while the media and civil society participate in a robust public discourse, journalists and activists face pressure and threats," Freedom House states.
Kosovo and BiH improve slightly, Serbia falls
Kosovo scored 61 index points and saw a slight improvement compared to last year, when it received 60 index points.
"Kosovo holds credible and relatively well-administered elections. Many public institutions are marred by entrenched corruption, although there are signs that a new generation of politicians is moving to confront corrupt practices through judicial and administrative reforms," the report notes.
He adds that in Kosovo, “newly elected lawmakers were unable to form a government for most of the year, while the interim government reportedly exceeded its technical mandate, resulting in early elections.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina scored 54 index points and saw a slight improvement compared to last year, when it received 53 index points.
"Political affairs are characterized by a severe partisan gridlock among nationalist leaders from the country's Bosniak, Serb, and Croat communities. Political participation by citizens from other communities is extremely limited. Corruption remains a serious problem in government and elsewhere in society," Freedom House states.
Recently, Serbia has ranked worst in the region, with its score dropping from 56 to 53 index points, due to democratic backwardness under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party, Freedom House assessed.
“Serbia is a parliamentary democracy with competitive multi-party elections, but in recent years the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has consistently eroded political rights and civil liberties, exerting pressure on independent media, the political opposition, and civil society organizations,” the report says.
Freedom House explains that Serbia lost 3 points after authorities retaliated against teachers and professors who participated in widespread student-led anti-corruption protests by withholding salaries and employment contracts.
“At the same time, police used excessive force against protesters and failed to protect them from armed gangs. Police and intelligence services reportedly used a variety of spy products to surveil journalists, civil society actors, and protest organizers in Serbia. For example, at least dozens and possibly hundreds of personal devices were targeted by a unique spy tool referred to as NoviSpy, but the exact number is unknown as authorities secretly installed it during arrests, detentions, and police interviews,” Freedom House notes.
He concludes that “such actions have contributed to Serbia’s overall decline in Freedom in the World scores in recent years, as awareness of unchecked state surveillance motivates self-censorship among ordinary citizens.” /Adapted Pamphlet /
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